Homework Help: Angular momentum in QM

Izbitzer · Nov 14, 2006

Hello,

I'm trying to solve a problem dealing with finding the probability of measuring certain values of [tex]L^2[/tex] for a particle.

The particle is on a sphere and is in the state [tex]\Psi (\theta , \phi) = Ne^{\\cos{\theta }}[/tex].

I don't know quite how to start, I guess I have to decompose the wave function in eigenfunctions for [tex]L^2[/tex], and then find the corresponding eigenvalues, and form that find the probability of measuring that particular eigenvalue, but like I said, I don't really know where to start.

Does anybody have any pointers?

Thanks!

dextercioby · Nov 15, 2006

Nope, you have to do you wrote. That is try to write your wavefunction as a linear combination of angular momentum eigenstates.

Daniel.

Izbitzer · Nov 15, 2006

Thanks for the reply!

I've worked some more, and I think I've made some progress

The eigenfunctions of [tex]\^{L}^2[/tex] are spherical harmonics, but since the wave function is independent of [tex]\phi[/tex], m = 0, i.e [tex]\Psi(\theta,\phi) = \sum_{l} c_{l,0}Y_l^0 [/tex].
The eigenvalues are [tex]l(l+1)\hbar[/tex]. So I just see which value of [tex]l[/tex] corresponds with the values I'm supposed to find the probability of. The probability is calculated with: [tex]|c_{l}|^2 = |<\Psi|Y_l^0>|^2[/tex]. This is where I'm stuck at the moment. The integrals are really complicated and I can't find them in any books, is there any easier way to calculate this?

Thanks!

nrqed · Nov 15, 2006

Izbitzer said:

Thanks for the reply!

I've worked some more, and I think I've made some progress

The eigenfunctions of [tex]\^{L}^2[/tex] are spherical harmonics, but since the wave function is independent of [tex]\phi[/tex], m = 0, i.e [tex]\Psi(\theta,\phi) = \sum_{l} c_{l,0}Y_l^0 [/tex].
The eigenvalues are [tex]l(l+1)\hbar[/tex]. So I just see which value of [tex]l[/tex] corresponds with the values I'm supposed to find the probability of. The probability is calculated with: [tex]|c_{l}|^2 = |<\Psi|Y_l^0>|^2[/tex]. This is where I'm stuck at the moment. The integrals are really complicated and I can't find them in any books, is there any easier way to calculate this?

Thanks!

A suggestion: I don't recall the exact form of the[itex] Y^l_0 [/itex], but aren't they simple to write in terms of [itex] (cos \theta)^n [/itex] ? Then you simply have to Taylor expand [itex] e^{cos \theta)} [/itex]. The coefficients will simply be the usual 1/n!. If you have a closed form expression for the [itex] Y^l_0 (cos (\theta) [/itex], then you can find the coeeficients c_l without doing a single integral.

Patrick

Izbitzer · Nov 15, 2006

nrqed said:

A suggestion: I don't recall the exact form of the[itex] Y^l_0 [/itex], but aren't they simple to write in terms of [itex] (cos \theta)^n [/itex] ? Then you simply have to Taylor expand [itex] e^{cos \theta)} [/itex]. The coefficients will simply be the usual 1/n!. If you have a closed form expression for the [itex] Y^l_0 (cos (\theta) [/itex], then you can find the coeeficients c_l without doing a single integral.

Patrick

That probably would have worked, but I managed to solve the damn integrals before I read your reply All it took was some (a lot of) integration by parts, and it turned out ok. Now I can finally rest.

Thanks for taking the time guys!

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Homework Help: Angular momentum in QM

Izbitzer

dextercioby

Izbitzer

nrqed

Izbitzer